The Buscher

Harper hits 9 home runs in like 30 seconds to win it in his home park to win it. That sort of comeback would make 2005 era John Cena blush.

Darren Sproles has very quietly amassed the 8th most all-purpose yards in NFL history. The top 10 includes seven Hall of Famers (Rice, Payton, Emmitt Smith, Tim Brown, Faulk, Tomlinson, Sanders) and a future Hall of Famer (Steve Smith). Dude could very well go to the Hall of Fame. But it's worth noting that the only outlier is Brian Mitchell, who ranks #2 on the list but got most of his yards on returns.

One of my friends from another board was beaming after the Colombia game and saying he’d be proud of this team no matter how far they go. Today? “Nope, can’t be proud of this team after these last two games. Garbage.”

Confirmed: FOX hires Jeff Fisher as a commentator Also confirmed: FOX to go 8-8 on the season

Whoa, Jean Segura actually beat out Benintendi and Stanton in the AL Final Vote. Jesus Aguilar wins the NL Final Vote and rightly so. Other roster adjustments: Jed Lowrie for Gleyber Torres Yadier Molina for Buster Posey Ross Stripling for Miles Mikolas Probably will be a few more pitchers bowing out in the coming days.

I love watching deGrom pitch so much. Eight shutout innings in the Mets' win over the Phillies yesterday. But of course he didn't get the win because they didn't score until the 10th. As if there is any more proof needed that pitcher wins are the most useless stat in all of baseball, deGrom has a 1.68 ERA over his first 19 starts but a W/L record of just 5-4. Anybody who still cites the wins stat when decided who is a better player should be immediately thrown out of their profession.

Two players selected in the Supplemental Draft today. Western Michigan CB Sam Beal goes to the Giants who will give up a 3rd round pick in 2019. Virginia Tech CB Adonis Alexander goes to the Redskins who will give up a 6th round pick in 2019. Beal seems like he could be a great depth piece for this year and possibly a starter by next. I like it.

The Rays are not moving to Montreal.

Possibly a finger wag.

LeSean McCoy has been accused of beating his girlfriend. That’s a very graphic image making its way about it around Instagram and it’s incredibly disturbing.

Yeah, Stanton was listed on the ballot at DH with Judge, Gardner and Hicks in the OF. I THINK the teams themselves submit a nominee at each position. Hilariously, this led to the Mets submitting an OF ballot of Cespedes, Conforto, and Bruce right before Brandon Nimmo got red hot and they had to start campaigning for him to be a write-in.

Yeah, I'd rather the player ballot not include a DH. I'm okay with the office adding a second DH to the team if it's clearly the best rep for a team (as was the case with Choo) but three is overkill, and it could well wind up four with Stanton. At least those guys are capable of playing outfield.

All Star Rosters announced officially. NL Starters, Fan Vote C Willson Contreras, Cubs 1B Freddie Freeman, Braves 2B Javier Baez, Cubs SS Brandon Crawford, Giants 3B Nolan Arenado, Rockies OF Bryce Harper, Nationals OF Matt Kemp, Dodgers OF Nick Markakis, Braves NL Player Ballot SP Jacob deGrom, Mets SP Mike Foltynewicz, Braves SP Jon Lester, Cubs SP Aaron Nola, Phillies SP Max Scherzer, Nationals RP Sean Doolittle, Nationals RP Josh Hader, Brewers RP Brad Hand, Padres C Buster Posey, Giants 1B Joey Votto, Reds 2B Ozzie Albies, Braves SS Trevor Story, Rockies 3B Eugenio Suarez, Reds OF Charlie Blackmon, Rockies OF Lorenzo Cain, Brewers OF Christian Yelich, Brewers NL Commissioner's Office Picks SP Patrick Corbin, Diamondbacks SP Miles Mikolas, Cardinals RP Kenley Jansen, Dodgers RP Felipe Vazquez, Pirates C J.T. Realmuto, Marlins 1B Paul Goldschmidt, Diamondbacks 2B Scooter Gennett, Reds NL Final Vote 1B Jesus Aguilar, Brewers 1B Brandon Belt, Giants 1B/3B Max Muncy, Dodgers SS Trea Turner, Nationals 3B Matt Carpenter, Cardinals I got pretty damn close with my guesses. But I made the same mistake in my predictions that I did last year, I forgot that the managers have zero say in the roster at all now. The league office fills all remaining spots. Overall though, everyone involved did a good job with this team. The one real snub to me is Jesus Aguilar who definitely shouldn't be subjected to the Final Vote. I love Joey Votto, but he was a reputation pick from the players. Aguilar's been objectively way better this year. AL Starters, Fan Vote C Wilson Ramos, Rays 1B Jose Abreu, White Sox 2B Jose Altuve, Astros SS Manny Machado, Orioles 3B Jose Ramirez, Indians OF Mookie Betts, Red Sox OF Aaron Judge, Yankees OF Mike Trout, Angels NL Player Ballot SP Gerrit Cole, Astros SP Corey Kluber, Indians SP Chris Sale, Red Sox SP Luis Severino, Yankees SP Justin Verlander, Astros (will not play) RP Aroldis Chapman, Yankees RP Edwin Diaz, Mariners RP Craig Kimbrel, Red Sox C Salvador Perez, Royals 1B Mitch Moreland, Red Sox 2B Gleyber Torres, Yankees SS Francisco Lindor, Indians 3B Alex Bregman, Astros OF Michael Brantley, Indians OF Mitch Haniger, Mariners OF George Springer, Astros DH Nelson Cruz, Mariners AL Commissioner's Office Picks SP Trevor Bauer, Indians (roster replacement for Justin Verlander) SP Jose Berrios, Twins SP J.A. Happ, Blue Jays RP Joe Jimenez, Tigers RP Blake Treinen, Athletics DH Shin-Soo Choo, Rangers AL Final Vote OF Andrew Benintendi, Red Sox OF Eddie Rosario, Twins SS Jean Segura, Mariners SS Andrelton Simmons, Angels DH Giancarlo Stanton, Yankees Although my predictions were pretty close here - I gotta say the players had a few head scratchers. Specifically Salvador Perez. I know catcher is a weak position in the AL, but Perez has been straight up trash this year. Definite reputation pick. Eddie Rosario really should be on this team, but on a final ballot with a Boston and New York players he's got no shot. He and Nicholas Castellanos were the clear picks for the Twins and Tigers respectively, but since the players didn't pick either of them their teams had to be represented by pitchers. This in turn cost Blake Snell a spot in what might be one of the biggest snubs I've seen. Dude's leading the AL in ERA and needs to bank on someone else dropping out just to get in the game.

I'm in 2019, early season game against the Cubs. Decided to just do a full game on manager mode. Brandon McCarthy who I'd signed to a cheap 1-year deal to be my 5th starter going up against Drew Smily. McCarthy pitches 6 innings of 1-run ball, his only blemish being a solo shot to Willson Contreras. But in typical Met fashion, they're getting shut out by Smily. 8th inning, Carl Edwards comes in. Manage to load the bases with him. With a righty now in the game, I sub out Wilmer Flores for Justin Bour who I acquired from the Marlins in 2018. Bour pays dividends with an opposite field double down the line, driving in 3 and giving me a 3-1 lead. Bring in my big offseason acquisition Andrew Miller. I'm not keen on giving out multi-year deals to older players, but at 33 he's still a 97 rating and so landing him for 2 years plus a mutual option seemed like a good bargain. He'd also looked outstanding in his first few Met appearances. Immediately K's Bryant on a wipeout slider. Great start. But then lefties Schwarber and Rizzo both manage to get base hits against the nearly unhittable lefty. Willson Contreras up, and he hits a no doubt 3 run blast into the left field stands to give the Cubs a 4-3 lead. My Mets give me enough agita in real life. I don't need virtual Mets tormenting me too. Wish I could say what happened next, but I turned the game off before the ball even landed, and took it out of my PS4 and put it back in the case. Probably gonna take a prolonged break. This game brings out the worst in me sometimes.

I’d say should just about do it, but this World Cup has been crazy.

Joey Bats walkoff grand slam tonight. Unbelievably that was the first walkoff HR of his career.

BYE BYE BRAZIL!!!!!

Oh fuck

Despite how poorly this season has gone for my team, I do like my annual tradition of predicting the All Star rosters a few days before the announcement, simply because it gives me a chance to be a stat geek and look through how everyone is doing. I'll start with the NL. Fan Voting (8) C Buster Posey, San Francisco Giants 1B Freddie Freeman, Atlanta Braves 2B Ozzie Albies, Atlanta Braves SS Brandon Crawford, San Francisco Giants 3B Nolan Arenado, Colorado Rockies OF Bryce Harper, Washington Nationals OF Matt Kemp, Los Angeles Dodgers OF Nick Markakis, Atlanta Braves As usual I just roll with the current leaders as of the most recent ballot update a couple of days ago. Posey and Albies were in the closest battles at last glance. Harper was also getting somewhat close to losing his spot but I just can't see any way he isn't starting this game in his home park. Player Balloting (16) SP Jacob deGrom, New York Mets SP Mike Foltynewicz, Atlanta Braves SP Jon Lester, Chicago Cubs SP Aaron Nola, Philadelphia Phillies SP Max Scherzer, Washington Nationals RP Sean Doolittle, Washington Nationals RP Josh Hader, Milwaukee Brewers RP Kenley Jansen, Los Angeles Dodgers C Willson Contreras, Chicago Cubs 1B Paul Goldschmidt, Arizona Diamondbacks 2B Scooter Gennett, Cincinnati Reds SS Trevor Story, Colorado Rockies 3B Eugenio Suarez, Cincinnati Reds OF Charlie Blackmon, Colorado Rockies OF Odubel Herrera, Philadelphia Phillies OF David Peralta, Arizona Diamondbacks The players have done a pretty good job in their voting the last several years - now and then you'll get someone coasting in on reputation alone but generally everyone who makes it deserves to be going. I could see a few close calls here at C, 1B, and 2B. The pitching is ridiculous this year. Obviously due to bias I'd love to see deGrom make the start but that's definitely gonna be Scherzer in DC. Managerial Selections (7) P Patrick Corbin, Arizona Diamondbacks P Jeremy Jeffress, Milwaukee Brewers P Miles Mikolas, St. Louis Cardinals P Kirby Yates, San Diego Padres C J.T. Realmuto, Miami Marlins 1B/3B Max Muncy, Los Angeles Dodgers OF Corey Dickerson, Pittsburgh Pirates Mikolas, Yates, Realmuto, and Dickerson fill up the quota of every team needing a representative, while Corbin and Jeffress bring the team up to the requirement of 12 pitchers. Most every year you'll see a manager reward one of his own players, and if Dave Roberts does that I think he'll throw Muncy onto the team with his last pick. Final Vote Candidates (5) 1B Jesus Aguilar, Milwaukee Brewers 1B Jose Martinez, St. Louis Cardinals 2B Javier Baez, Chicago Cubs SS Trea Turner, Washington Nationals 3B Anthony Rendon, Washington Nationals The last roster spot is always a shot in the dark since there are a million guys you could put on here - dropping from 34 roster spots down to 32 always means you're gonna have a few more guys left out that would've otherwise made it. It's totally possible that Aguilar and/or Baez get in via the player ballot over Goldschmidt and/or Gennett. Now the AL. Fan Voting (9) C Wilson Ramos, Tampa Bay Rays 1B Jose Abreu, Chicago White Sox 2B Jose Altuve, Houston Astros SS Manny Machado, Baltimore Orioles 3B Jose Ramirez, Cleveland Indians OF Mookie Betts, Boston Red Sox OF Aaron Judge, New York Yankees OF Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels DH J.D. Martinez, Boston Red Sox Same thing - just stuck with the most recent update. This could very well all change significantly as Ramos was in a tight race with Gary Sanchez while a trio of Astros were in pursuit at 1B, SS, and 3B. Player Balloting (18) SP Corey Kluber, Cleveland Indians SP Chris Sale, Boston Red Sox SP Luis Severino, New York Yankees SP Blake Snell, Tampa Bay Rays SP Justin Verlander, Houston Astros RP Aroldis Chapman, New York Yankees RP Edwin Diaz, Seattle Mariners RP Craig Kimbrel, Boston Red Sox C Yan Gomes, Cleveland Indians 1B Mitch Moreland, Boston Red Sox 2B Gleyber Torres, New York Yankees SS Francisco Lindor, Cleveland Indians 3B Alex Bregman, Houston Astros OF Nicholas Castellanos, Detroit Tigers OF Mitch Haniger, Seattle Mariners OF Eddie Rosario, Minnesota Twins DH Giancarlo Stanton, New York Yankees Not much to fuss about with this group. No idea who the players will vote in at catcher - Sanchez hitting below the Mendoza line might bounce him out in favor of a guy with a good defensive reputation in Gomes. You could argue Trevor Bauer getting a spot over Corey Kluber, but that's where reputation comes in a bit as Kluber's the reigning Cy Young while Bauer is known to be a bit of a dick. Managerial Selections (5) P J.A. Happ, Toronto Blue Jays P Brad Keller, Kansas City Royals P Charlie Morton, Houston Astros P Blake Treinen, Oakland Athletics OF Nomar Mazara, Texas Rangers I actually kinda feel bad at how hamstrung A.J. Hinch would be in this scenario. Dude only gets to make five selections, four of them have to be pitchers, and he has four unrepresented teams he has to account for. If Castellanos and/or Rosario miss out on the player ballot, that'll complicate things even further. In any event, I think he's got little choice but to just take whoever he's deemed to be the best pitcher for the remaining teams left. Shin-Soo Choo has been the Rangers' best player but having a third DH would be silly, so Mazara gets the spot instead. Morton gets rewarded for his strong season and World Series heroics to round it off. Final Vote Candidates (5) 2B Jed Lowrie, Oakland Athletics SS Carlos Correa, Houston Astros SS Jean Segura, Seattle Mariners SS Andrelton Simmons, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim 3B Yangervis Solarte, Toronto Blue Jays And again I'm just guessing with these last few picks. With Gleyber Torres having just gotten hurt I'd guess Lowrie makes his way onto the team whether he wins the Final Vote or not.

Since starting 11-1, the Mets have gone 22-48 and they're sitting with the worst record in the NL at the halfway point. Easily the lowest I've ever felt in my time years as a fan. No matter how bad the team has been over the years, I must've logged 300-400 hours per season watching them. And now I'm so disgusted with this franchise and its crooked ownership that I haven't watched a full game since May and have no interest in going to a game even though there should be great seats available for cheap. If/when I don't go this season, it'll snap a two-decade streak for me of going to at least one game.

May as well get Machado too just to ensure the 2019 baseball season is as predictbale as the 2018-19 NBA season.

Wonder how many heart attacks got reported in England during that.

That was tight

Not sure I could see Colombia scoring any way other than via fluke penalty. They have no attack to speak of.

That’s gotta be Kane!